Elder Chew Chong Kiat

                                  Be Not Ignorant of You r Spiritual Gifts

1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

It is the duty of every child of God to know his gifts and to use them to serve God in the body of Jesus Christ, of which he is a member.
It is a sin to remain in ignorance or disinterest of the gifts that God has given to him upon his spiritual birth. It is also a sin to not serve God with any gift and be fruitless.
In fact, one should stand in fear and make sure that he is not a fruitless branch of a vine, which will be cut off and cast into the fire (John 15:6), or like the unprofitable servant who hid his talent in the earth and was cast out into outer darkness (Mt 25:30). Both indicate that he is not born again.
If one is truly born again and fails in this duty to use his gifts mindfully and zealously, it will lead to bearing little fruit due to disobedience. This is not God’s will. God would have every one of His redeemed to be fruitful and abounding in every good work.
For our instruction, we will glean ten principles from 1Cor 12 and 14 to regulate the use of our spiritual gifts.

1st: Be not Ignorant of Your Spiritual Gifts and Their Use. (1Cor 12:1)
1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
Paul was addressing the brethren from the household of faith. Only they have spiritual gifts.
Paul referred to spiritual gifts which are different from natural talents.

Differences:
1) A talent is the result of genetics or training or the environment, while a spiritual gift is the result of the power of the Holy Spirit. (1Cor 12:11)
2) Anyone, Christian or non-Christian, can possess talents but spiritual gifts are given only to Christians. (1Cor 12:11)
3) Spiritual gifts are given to profit the church, the body of Christ (Eph 4:12). Talents can be used entirely for non-spiritual purposes.

Similarity:
1) Both are gifts from God.
2) Both are to be used only for the glory of God and not for selfish purposes.
3) Both can grow in effectiveness with applications.

One may be a manager or CEO but that does not mean that he has the gift of administration in the church. Likewise, it does not mean that a talented school teacher can be a teacher of God’s Word in the Sunday School or that a piano teacher can play the piano for worship service. God must first give him or her suitable spiritual gifts.
The born again believer will need to discern the gift that God has given to him. He may do so by responding to an invitation to serve with those who have the spiritual gifts in that area. They will be able to help discern his gifts.

2nd: There are Diversities of Gifts & Uses but the Same Lord that Gave Them. (1Cor 12:4-6)

There are varieties of gifts (as listed in this chapter and others found in Ephesians 4 and Romans 12). Each has a different function like the different parts of our body, but it is the same God the Holy Spirit who energises each child of God in his work through the gifts he has been given (v6). We therefore have to abide in Him, for without Him we can do nothing.
Each of us is to be fruitful in that one or several gifts given by God. All of us will not have the same gift. Don’t envy others for their gifts, but fear that we are not abounding in our gifts. Our reward is not based on the number of gifts we have, but in how faithful we use the gifts that we have. To whom much is given, much is expected of him.

3rd: Gifts are to be Used to Profit Others. (1Cor 12:7)

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Why envy others who have certain gifts that we do not have? The gifts they have are to serve the body of Christ, of which we are also a part. Thank God for each of them. We need to be sure we use our gifts to profit others and not ourselves.

4th: To Each is Given Different Gifts by the Same Spirit who Energises and Divides the gift according to His Sovereign Will. (1Cor 12:8-11)

God gives to each believer according to His sovereign will and wisdom. Not all will have the same gift. This passage speaks against all the Charismatics who seek to speak in tongues. Every Christian is given at least one gift as the Holy Spirit determines. The Christian is not to pray for any gift but to find out what gift [or gifts] has been given to him by God.
Do we trust the wisdom of God in what He has given to us and rejoice in them? Or do we murmur and complain that we do not have what we want, and are, as a result, not able to serve God and bear fruits? This is tantamount to putting the blame on God for our fruitlessness. God forbid. We are to abound in whatever gifts God has given to us.

5th: The Body is Not One Member but Many; There is Diversity in Unity. (1Cor 12:12-14)

The emphasis here is the oneness of the body with many members that are all different in their gifts and functions. They are nevertheless to strive together and not against one other. They are to use their gifts to work together as an organic whole, supporting one another, caring for one another. That is the purpose of the gifts.

6th: Everyone is needed. Don’t belittle yourself. (1Cor 12:15-20)

No child of God should displease God by saying that he is not important, or that the church can do without him since he has been inactive all these years and the church is doing fine.
Just imagine a part of our body going into inactivity. Those with a knee problem will soon have trouble with the good knee due to overuse. Likewise, when there are many pew warmers in the church, or by-standers watching from the sidelines, or others becoming self-appointed assessors of the labours of others, the ones who have been labouring will become "worn out" and less effective.
Granted, we may not all teach and preach, but surely we can exhort one another, so much the more as we see the day of the Lord fast approaching. We can bear each other’s burdens and thus fulfil the law of Christ. Surely there are many who can help those in need in a practical way, within their means, as well as pray and show concern, love and care? These are just some of the many ways that we can serve the Lord together in the household of God.
Each of us is necessary and part of the body! No one is to say that the body doesn’t need him. Not being in positions of leadership does not mean that we are not part of the body.
God can do so much through a church that has all her members mobilised, each with different gifts, serving Him, each other and together for the Kingdom of God. We need all hands on deck so as to fulfil the great commission of the Lord Jesus.

7th: Every Part is Necessary to Support One Another. (1Cor 12:21-24).

Some parts of our body are feebler but they are still necessary. Our body knows how to support the weaker with the stronger parts. The skeletal and muscular system of our body holds up the many organs which are very feeble and fragile. But these feeble and fragile parts, like the heart and lungs, are very necessary for life! Likewise, in the body of Christ, those who are stronger ought to protect and support the weaker in the church so that together they can do more in the church. We are to fulfil the law of Christ by bearing one another’s burden.
The body knows how to give more honour to the less honourable parts. E.g. We put on shoes to cover the feet and for our uncomely parts, God covers them with muscles, bones and flesh (v23-24).
So we are commanded to be kindly affectioned one to another, in honour preferring one another. We are commanded to use charity toward one another, which shall cover a multitude of sins. As we forgive one another and are longsuffering, we will not be highlighting each other’s weakness but will instead be encouraging and helping one another.

8th: No Schism But Care for One another. (1Cor 12:25-27).

A disagreement in the body of Christ can cause disunity. But it should not. We can learn to submit to each other in the Lord. As we speak and learn the Word of God, we will be able to discern the will of God. We must not insist that we are right just to "win". Submit to the mind of Christ, in love preferring one another and esteeming others better than ourselves!
When one member is in grief, we should feel his pain and come alongside him to support. We grieve with those who grieve and rejoice with those who rejoice. When one part of our body is unwell, the whole body suffers. We must come together just as the parts of the body come together to heal the body.
We are not in a competition, striving to be first. We are in the business of the Kingdom of God and the service of our Lord and Saviour. When Christ is preached and God is glorified, we rejoice because we love the same Christ and God. It is a sin to envy our brother or sister in Christ.
We ought rather to serve one another with charity, which is the message of chapter 13.

9th Seek to Edify. (1Cor 14:1-5)

Spiritual gifts are given for edification of the body of Christ. Use them the way they were designed for. Never boast of a gift or use it for self-glorification. How are you using your gifts to be a blessing to others?

10th Use your Gifts Responsibly. (1Cor 14:33, 40)

Our God is a God of order and peace, and we must use our gifts responsibly in the church so that we do not create disorder and unrest. A case in point is to teach a doctrine that is contrary to the church’s stand to create confusion and unrest. Even if one is convinced that the stand he holds is of God, it is still improper to sow seeds of discord! The proper way is to prove his stand to the BOE from the Scripture.

Conclusion

God is the author and giver of spiritual gifts. No child of God should be ignorant of his gifts, but must seek God to discern the gifts that he has been given and to regulate their use according to God’s command.